So there are a few things here that you need to be made aware of. First, Ace Performance Systems is the New England region Ariel Atom dealer and they are located in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. They suffered through the same horrific winter I did and we’re all a little nutso about it at this point. Secondly, the people at Ace thought it would be a good idea to drag race one of their full race Atoms against a snowmobile. Third, the location this is filmed on is unique and weird in and of itself because Alton, NH is home to the only FAA approved ice runway in the lower 48-states. I’ve actually been there when planes were coming in and out and it rules. It did not rule as hard as when an Ariel Atom freaking drag raced a snowmobile but it was neat all the same.
The snowmobile here is a 2015 Polaris 800cc unit with a capable enough looking rider and no other mentioned modifications. It makes 160hp and weighs in at a svelte 460lbs. The Atom is the full race version so it is packing a 230hp Honda four banger and it tips the scales at 1,315lbs. The one modification made to the Atom was the addition of some Woody’s screw in studs to help give the light car some more grip on the slippery surface.
The guys at Ace did a really nice job with the video. It is entertaining, not too long, not all bogged down with tricks and editing overload that makes your head spin, and there are some shots that indicate that these things were both really trucking when they hit the finish line, which we’re thinking was a quarter mile from the starting point. We’ve always wanted to spend a couple minutes behind the wheel of an Ariel Atom because who wouldn’t? The thing is the basic essence of a hot rod, just like the guys on the lakes used to strip windshields, fenders, and hoods off of their cars, so the Atom has shed every possible ounce of “unnecessary” weight.
You can snicker at the 230hp number all you want but in just 1,315lbs the thing likely corners hard enough to shift your organs and it should (depending on traction) have enough guts to give the Polaris a run for its money here on the icy track. Now…do you think they pulled it off?
Click here to visit Ace Performance Systems website
I’ve seen about 3 or 4 of these car vs sled videos in the last few months and each on has been total B.S. (and we ain’t talking Bang Shift either)
That sled with studs on the track (as nearly every sledder uses) and it’s throttle pegged would being hauling azz out of the hole with her skis hiked 6-8 inches off the ice.
Nice as that Ariel Atom’s power to weight is, it loses this race EVERY time hands down.
800s launch like this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8dQ4d6RY9Q